Not all jobs are created equal!

Some jobs are just that - a job. I'm sure you've seen the "J.O.B. = Just Over broke" analogy. Well, money is only one aspect of being "broke." Oh, you say. What other ways can you be broke? Here are three.

How's your enthusiasm for life? Is it up and running at full speed? Do you look forward to going to work, interacting with your coworkers ans customers? Can't wait to answer the phone and solve another problem. Woohoo! Check your enthusiasm bank account. You might be broke.

I know you enjoy your commute. It is a great way to prepare for the joy that awaits you at home. Constant excitement and joy. Your partner and children are waiting to give you a big hug and kiss. They missed you all day. Or maybe not. Maybe the commute is a hassle, traffic is a killer, and the chaos of home awaits you. How is your relationship account? Broke?

Lying there in the early morning, head on the pillow, life flashing through your thoughts you smile appreciating your success. All those lofty goals and dreams of youth have come true. Obviously you are fantastically satisfied by your accomplishments. Oops! There might be a couple of areas you could work on. Could your fulfillment account be - broke!?

Hmm. On second thought you probably don't need to make any changes.

Or not.

Coach

Renewing Your Career Mind

Romans 12:2 tells us to "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Philippians 4:8 says "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

How are you renewing your mind? Are you thinking about the past and your old ways or about the future God has for you living out His purpose for your life? How are you transforming your life's work to accomplish that purpose?

You probably already know that if you want different results you have to take different actions. And you will need new thoughts because actions start with thoughts. What are you thinking about your new career to go along with your new creation?

Three ways to find the right job fit for you.

One, list all the things you really enjoy doing and next to them list all the skills involved in doing them. Next list things you are naturally good at doing. Then compare the two lists to see which of your natural abilities are used in doing the things you really like. Now list other jobs that use those same abilities. For example, I like surfing the Internet for business news. That takes computer savvy, research skills, navigation skills, reading skills, comprehension etc. So what "jobs" involve using computers, Internet, navigation skills, computer savvy, etc.? How about web design? Or maybe teaching computer classes?

A second way to find the right fit is to think about the things that you are passionate or very enthusiastic about. What "causes" get your heart beating faster and your mind racing? Are you an outdoor activity enthusiast - hiking, camping, boating? Are you passionate about preserving nature for future generations to use and enjoy? You could be a camp counselor or a hunting and fishing guide. You might want to work for REI, The Mountaineers or Sierra Club.

The third way to discover your job fit is to think about and list the jobs of people you know that interest you or that you have thought about trying. Spend some time talking to them about their job and what it involves. Spend a day with them at work. Get a feel for how it works for you.

Actually, this third method is a good one to use regardless of how you find your dream job. Nothing is more powerful than that moment when you say to yourself, "This person has MY job."

New Creation = New Career Opportunity

Getting a chance to start over is what the New Creations program at Seattle's Union Gospel Mission is all about. That doesn't mean it is easy ... or quick. And starting over as a new spiritual being and leaving behind old behaviors and addictions is only the beginning.

Starting a new career to go along with your new creation is an important ingredient in the recipe for a healthier, happier, more fulfilling life. The first step is the most challenging. You have to believe it is possible.

If you have never dared to dream or have a vision of your future it may seem unattainable. If you have never experienced the luxury of looking beyond the next week, the next day, or even the next hour, thinking about one year, two years or more down the road may be unimaginable. Yet that is the first step - simply believing that God has a plan for you and a multitude of options to achieve His purpose for your life.

Give yourself the gift of throwing off the chains of your past and accepting that God has an incredible future in store for you.

Coach

Affordable coaching, anytime access!

I thought the pace might slow down after the Fourth of July. No. I have been speaking to services clubs, adding coaching clients, developing new materials to share and even more exciting, building a membership site for easy, economical access to career coaching. If you are even thinking about thinking about changing careers or jobs within your current employment, this is definitely the way to go. Think you can't afford coaching? Think again. Think you can't squeeze coaching into your schedule? Think again.

For the price of a grande, non-fat, mochaccino per week you can experience all the value of coaching, minus the one-on-one. You get all the articles, all the audio and video files, all the guest experts. And you get it 24/7 when you want it. Download MP3's and listen on your iPod! Plus you can email questions to our expert panel and join us for forum discussions.

Do I sound excited? Yes. Why? Because I want everyone to have the opportunity to make confident career choices through coaching. Everyone deserves to have someone in their corner.

Stay tuned for the launch date. I'm confident you'll wonder how you got along without it.

Oh, and if you are in the market for a new kitten, I have six little bundles of joy who will be ready to change your world in about 8 weeks.

Coach

Working to live, not living to work.

Well, it has been a whirlwind of activity the past three weeks. The end of June I went to a career coaching "bootcamp" in Portland, OR. The theme was moving into "Coaching 2.0" the next generation of coaching. Marcia Bench, founder of Career Coach Institute, offered several options for delivering coaching that will give many more people the opportunity to experience the power of coaching in their career decisions.

This week it was the National Career Development Association National Convention in Seattle. Career professionals from across the country and Canada attended to share tips and techniques, learn about new best practices and technology. Two of the best workshops were focused on coaching models - Marcia Bench's "laser coaching" and Gail Michalski's "Solution Focused Career Transition" model for career counselors. Both workshops focused on clients driving the process, active listening, empowerment and keying on strengths, rather than weaknesses.

What a concept! The client actually knows more about their situation than anyone and if they are going to be successful the focus needs to be on what's working, not what isn't working. (Hmmm... reminiscent of the Law of Attraction - whatever you focus in you get more of.)

More on these events in days to come.

There may be benefits to taking care of yourself now.

We talked before about taking care of the stranger you don't know - your future self - by the action you take today. Today's New York Times has an interesting article about the value of downsizing plans for the future security and spending more time on relationships and other endeavors that enhance your current life. In the long run you may be healthier and happier. It is a new twist on the "grasshopper and ant" parable. It Might Pay to Follow Your Bliss is the story.

It fits with what we've been discussing - following your strengths to a better life. Better quality relationships and healthier mindsets follow in part from meaningful and fulfilling work.

In the end, confident career choices lead to a happier and more rewarding life.

Coach